Process of and apparatus for the treatment of ramie and jute



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PROCESS OF AND APPA TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT E.

No. 297,554. Patented Apr. 29, 1884.

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N. ARTHURS.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RAMIE AND JUTB PatentedApr. 29, 1884..

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- WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

N. ARTHURS. PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF EAMIE ANDJUTE. No. 297,554. Patented Apr. 29,1884.

WITNESSES: v INVENTOIST ATTORNEYS.

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NITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

NICHOLAS ARTHUBS, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

PROCESS OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RAMIE AND JUTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,554, dated April29, 1884.

' Application filed June 19, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NICHOLAS ARTHURS, of New Orleans, in the parish ofOrleans and State of Louisiana, have invented a new and Improved Processof and Apparatus for the Treatment of Ramie and Jute, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention consists in an improved method of and apparatus fortreating jute, ramie, and other plants for the extraction of the fibersor lint. 1

The object of the invention is, first, to ban dlc the stalks as littleas possible, and second to place the watering or wetting of the lintentirely under the control of the operator. It is well known that in thewatering of any lint, especially in a warm climate, it is necessary thatthe subsequent drying be hastened as much as possible. The third objectis to protect the strength of the fiber in the process subsequent to thewatering, and finally to provide an apparatus that can be removed fromone plantation to another for the use of planters who cannot afford anapparatus of their own.

The construction of the apparatus and the process will be described indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of/the wharves and raft. Fig. 2is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section ofthe first beater. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the second beater orcrusher. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the scutching-machine. Fig. 6 is anelevation of a crusher and condenser. Fig. 7 is avertical transversesection of an upright breaker, intended for use for certain classes ofmaterial. Fig. 8 is an elevation of a modified form of a scutcher orbreaker, and Fig. 9 is a cross-section of the same.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, A A are two floating wharves, betweenwhich is a raft, B, that is suspended by ropes a from a suitableframe-work upon the wharves. The ropes pass from the ends of the raftover sheaves or pulleys upon the frame-work and to windlasses upon thewharves, whereby the raft can be lowered into the water when loaded withthe material and raised again out of the water to the level of thewharves when the material is sufficiently wetted. The raft is providedwith upright pins 0, for holding the material in place.

The first beater or crusher (shown in Fig. 3) is to be mounted upon thewharves, and to consist of three rollers, d d (1, supported at theirends in suitable frames, 6, the upper roller,-

(1', being fitted in sliding bearings that are provided with springs forforcing this roller in contact with the lower rollers, d d. At one sideis a table, f, upon which the material is to be laid for feeding to themachine, and at the opposite side is a table, 9, for receiving thecrushed material.

The second crusher or beater (shown in Fig. 4) is provided with fourfluted rollers, h, arranged in pairs. The pair of rollers to which thematerial is first fed is made with coarse flutes or corrugations, andthe second pair with finer corrugations, so that they will act to breakthe woody material into fine pieces.

The scutcher or beater (shown in Fig. 5) consists of a cylinder, 1', ofsuitable diameter and length. This cylinder or drum is hollow andcovered with boards or sheet-iron, and, as shown more in detail in Fig.8, is provided with-four blades or knives, 70, running lengthwise of thedrum. Between these blades are four other blades or lags, 7c, fastenedto the flange of the drum at each end. Upon these lags k are pins placeda short distance apart, and the lags are so fitted that they can beremoved when not required for use.- These,

born, especially the ramie-stalk, in place of using the crusher shown inFig. 3; and it consists of a series of lower rollers, Z, and upperrollers, m, between which the material is passed, and between the lowerrollers, Z, are side rollers, m, that serve to confine the stalk andkeep it in a straight position, so as to facilitate the action of thecrushing-rollers, and

at the same time help the drying process.

The upright breaker (shown in Fig. 7) consists of a horizontal andfluted cylinder, 0, and a reciprocating breaker, p, fitted above thecylinder 0, and operated by a cam, q, so as to be moved to and from thecylinder. This machine is also provided with three fluted rollers, 1-,through which the material-passes after being subjected to the action ofthe reciprocating breaker 1).

In the modified form of scuteher shown in Figs. 8 and 9 a pair of flutedrollers are pro vided below the breaker 11.

To carry out the successive operations, the material to be operated uponis piled upon the wharves A, and the raft Bbeing then loaded with asuitable quantity, it is lowered into the water, where it is retainedfor a sufficient length of time, when it is again raised and removed forthe subsequent operation. The wet material is then passed through thefirst breaker, (shown in Fig. 3,) the rollers of which serve to break orcrush the stalks and partially separate the lint or fiber therefrom, atthe same time pressing out the water in the stalk. It is then passed tothe second breaker, which still further removes the water and breaks thewoody material into fine pieces, so that the lint or fiber can be morereadily separated by the scutching-machine, Fig. 5, to which thematerial is then passed. If the material be of a twisted or stubbornnature, the breaker or condenser shown in Fig. 6 may be used in place ofthe second breaker and the scutcher, or, in place thereof, the breakershown in Fig. 7 may be used. The material,

after passing through either machine, is delivered in a dry condition,with the woody material entirely removed, and with the strength of thefiber unimpaired. It can be seen that the material can be rapidlyhandled from the time of the wetting process until the final scutchingoperation, so that there is great economy and great saving oflabor. Thewharf is to be floated from place to place wherever work is to be done,and where there are no water facilities the apparatus can be constructed011 land and a tank used in connection with the raft. In cases where itis not to be subjected to the wetting operation and kept under wateruntil they are thorougly sa urated. In freezing latitudes they are thento be spread out upon the ground, so as to become frozen, in order topreserve the material; or in warm latitudes they maybe frozen inbuildings by the use of ice manufactured by machinery, and in thismanner kept in good condition until the crushing and beating operationcan be carried out.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A process of treating plants, which consists in first saturating the stalks with water; secondly, crushingthem; thirdly, breaking them into fine pieces, and, fourthly, removingthe lint or fiber from the material, as described.

2. The combination, with the frames 6, having the feed and deliverytables f g, of three plain-faced rolls, (Z (Z d, of which two are heldby springs to the third, as shown and described.

3. The apparatus for the treatment of jute and other plants,whichconsists in the wharves A A and the floating raft B, suspended betweenthe wharves, substantially in the manner specified.

4. The combination of two pairs of rolls, h

h h 71, both pairs being longitudinally ribbed, but the ribs on thefirst being larger and coarser than those on the second pair, wherebythe plants will be successively broken into coarse and line pieces, asdescribed.

5. In apparatus for beating or crushing jute or other plants, thecombination of the fluted roller 0 and the reciprocating beater 1),substantially as shown in Fig. 7, for operation in the manner specified.

(3. The cylinder i, made hollow, covered with boards, having fourlongitudinal blades, k, and provided with lags 7c, carrying pins, as andfor the purpose specified.

7. The crusher consisting of the top rolls, m, bottom rolls, Z, and siderolls, m, as and for the purpose set forth.

NICHOLAS ARTHUR-S.

IVitnesses:

ANDREW HERO, J12, CrnRLns TOWER.

